The Great Ocean Road

Yesterday we rented a car and headed up the Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles.  Here are the interesting things about that first sentence.

#1: I have never driven on the opposite side of the road and I decided to start by driving a total of 8 hours on a windy ocean highway.
#2: The Great Ocean Road spends a lot of time not actually on the ocean but like a drag race through the forest.
#3: There are not actually Twelve Apostles there are seven.

We thought it would be a good idea to try out driving on the opposite side of the road on a weekday so I rearranged some things and we set out on our "adventure".  I am truly amazed by the human brain that after a considerably short amount of time it felt like second-nature to drive on the left.  The kids were incredibly excited for a car ride.  I love that about them - they love an adventure as much as their mommy and they also love the car.  As we were driving back Keith mentioned that not a lot of people would make an impromptu 8 hour round-trip up the coast with two kids under 5 but ours have traveled so much in the car we didn't even think about it.

It was a bit windy and occassionally rainy so it was a decent day for a drive.  We stopped in Apollo Bay for some assorted fried fish which was delicious and saw Galah cockatoos which is really fun because they are in our Aussie animals game.  It would be amazing to see the majority of the animals in that game while we are here.  The guidebook said you can see koalas up in the trees on this road but despite my best efforts we saw no koalas or kangaroos.  We saw kangaroo crossing signs which were awesome and signs that said "Drive on Left in Australia" which were a good reminder but no wildlife.

We got to the 12 Apostles and it was the windiest place I think I have ever been.  Of course, like a mom, I remembered jackets for everyone else but left mine hanging on the hook - thank goodness for scarves.  My adventure-seeking children set off like missiles down the path which usually wouldn't be too worrisome for me except when I looked closer at the diamond-shaped warning sign it did not say "Rough road ahead" it said "Warning snakes".  Most people know I am a bit phobic about snakes so I instantly had a fear that seconds previous to that had not existed.  I told Cian to stay with Dad in the middle of the path not explaining why but the problem with being married is that often your spouse knows you very well and laughingly says "You read the sign and now you are being crazy - what do you think will magically happen in the middle of the path?".  I told him not to make fun of me but secretly I was thinking I could kill any potential killer snakes with my mind and maternal glare before they reached my son who was safely in the middle of the path.  Phobias don't make sense.  In case anyone was concerned we did not see any snakes I think the wind might have blown them into the bay.
However, we did manage to get to the lookout and see the Twelve Apostles.  It's a beautiful view despite there truly being only seven.  One of the prettiest coastal views I've ever seen.  Stunning.

We drove home and stopped to pick up supper in Apollo Bay.  Cian had spotted the park on the way out of town the first time because he has the most uncanny ability to spot playgrounds.  So the kids played at the park and I picked up food.  I popped into this one where an older Italian man waved his arms and greeted me like we knew each other.  He then told me I was "very beautiful" and that he was not just saying that and he would make my pizza regardless of whether or not I appreciated the compliment (which I did, he was utterly charming).  We ate our food and snacks in the car as the sun started to go down over the ocean and continued to drive down the windy ocean road lit up by the full moon.  The kids fell asleep in the car and Keith and I got to have one of our "dates" where we have great conversations because the kids can't interrupt and there are no other life distractions.  We got home late at night and put the kids down in their clothes.  It was a great day of adventure...even if there weren't any koala sightings.